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IVERSITY OF ILLINOIS BULLETIN 

Issued Weekly 
Vol. XV. APRIL 8, 1918. No. 32 

Entered as second class matter December 11. 1912, at the post office at Urbana Illinois, under the'Act 

of August 24, 1912.] 



WHAT EVERY ONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT 

WAR LEGISLATION 

By 

ROBERT EUGENE CUSHMAN, Ph. D., 

Instructor in Political Science 




PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 

Under the Direction of the War Committee 

URBANA 



Don't find fault with the law and the Government in this crisis! 

Obey them! 



Wofio^raob 



WAR LEGISLATION 



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What Is Our War Legislation? 

It consists of special burdens, obligations, and restraints imposed upon us be- 
cause we are at war. It is emergency legislation necessary to our national defense, 
and for the most part will not remain after the war has ended. 

It is necessary: first, to stamp out treason and disloyalty; second, to mobilize 
American patriotism and conserve our strength and resources. The loyal citizen 
wishes to serve; the war legislation shows him what to do and what not to do. 

// is your legislation. You made it. You elected the Congress which framed 
it and the President who approved it. It is the crystallized will of the whole people 
— your will and the will of the nation. 

Why Understand It? 

Because even the loyal citizen may easily break the law without knowmg it. 
If you do break it, it is no defense that you were ignorant or that you meant well. 
"Ignorance of the law excuses no man." 

Because public opinion must help enforce the law. You cannot do your part 
unless you know its methods and its purposes. The good citizen is the intelligent ' 
citizen. Learn what the law demands of you and tell your neighbor! 



WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES US TO DO 

SOME MUST FIGHT— CONSCRIPTION 

Why? Because the nation cannot wait for volunteers. Because the nation 
must be free to choose the men who can best be spared and who are best fitted. 

Who? Men between 21 and 30 inclusive. These men numbered 9,569,382 on 
June 5, 1917. Men may be exempted for reasons stated by law; e. g., physical de- 
fects, dependent relatives, etc. No one can buy exemption from the draft. No 
one can send a substitute. 

When? As fast as they are needed and can be used. In the order in which they 
can best be spared. 

How Long? Until the cause for which we are fighting has triumphed. 

Penalty? Imprisonment for the man who fails to respond. 

ALL MUST PAY— TAXATION 

The Reason. War takes money as well as men. Our government has appro- 
priated $21,390,000,000 during the first year of the war. Of this, $2,500,000,000 
must be raised by taxation, a sum nearly as large as the entire cost of our Civil War. 

Your share. Depends roughly upon your ability to pay. The rich must 
pay. The poor must pay. There are taxes upon luxuries. There are taxes upon 
necessities. We have not yet begun to approach the burden of taxation now borne 
by European countries. 



t. o^ •• 



The Taxes 

1. The Inheritance Tax. An rinhentante of $50,000 or less is taxed' 2%. 
A tax of 2% is laid on all inheritances over that amount supplemented by a series 
of surtaxes or additional taxes running up to 25% on the amount of the mheritance 
above $10,000,000. 

2. The Income Taxes. Two mcome tax laws are in force. To determme 
one's income tax it is necessary to compute the amount due under the act ot bepteni- 
ber 8, 1916, and add to it the tax due under the war mcome tax law ot <Jctober J 
1917. Under the new law $1000 net incomes of smgle persons and $2000 net mcomes 
of married persons are exempt from taxation. Above those po'^ts the rates range 
from 2% up finally to 50% on the amount of mcome above $1,000,UOU. 

3. The Corporation Tax. Taxes are now levied upon the net incomes ot all 
business corporations (with a few exceptions) at a flat rate of 6%. 

4 Excess Profits Tax. These taxes are laid upon the profits of individuals, 
partnerships, and corporations which, after certain deductions are made, are higher 
than certain percentages of the capital invested. These range from a tax of 20% 
on profits up to 15% to 60% on profits of . 33% or more. \^ hen trades, businesses, oc- 
cupations, or professions have no actual invested capital, an 8% t.^>^ '«„ ,^'^ o" the 
net incomes of individuals above $6000 and of corporations above $3000.. The pro- 
visions of this law are exceedingly complicated 

5 Taxes on Luxuries. It is natural that heavy taxes should be levied upon 
luxuries. Some of the important commodities in this class are: intoxicating liquors, 
soft drinks, automobiles, jewelry, sporting goods, cameras, chewing gum, playing 
cards yachts, admissions to places of amusement, dues of societies and organizations. 
The taxes on all such commodities are paidC directly by the manufacturer andjn- 
directly by the consumer in higher prices 

6. Taxes on Necessaries. Luxuries cannot pay all the taxes Large sums 
must be' raised bv taxing the common necessities of lite. Taxes are therefore pJaced 
upon medicines, toilet articles, railroad tickets, long distance telephone service, tel- 
egrams postal service, insurance policies, express and parcel post packages, and numer- 
ous ccn-.mercial and financial documents such as bonds, stocks, promissory notes, 
deeds, etc. 



WHAT THE LAW FORBIDS US TO DO 

ACTS OF TREASON AND DISLOYALTY 

The government deals promptly and severely with traitors, spies, and disloyal 
agitators. Treason is the crime of "levying war against the United States, or in ad- 
hering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort." It is punishable by death 
Other offences (given below) are punished by heavy penalties. 

1. Acting as a Spy. Every nation punishes the spy with death. His crime 
is that of givire the entmy information about our national defense. Every one is 
forbidden under heavy penalty to secure information about national defense with 



the intention that it mav be of use to the enemy. In regard to all such matters the 
safe rule for the loyal citizen is to mind his own business and keep his mouth shut. 
(Penalty; $10,000 fine, 2 yrs. imprisonment, or both.) 

2. Viohnct and Wilful Destruction of Property. The law is lying in wait for 
the man who burn's or blows up bridges, warehouses, and the like. Such acts may 
be treasonable a-; "giving aid and comfort to the enemy," while they are in addition 
crimes against rhe laws of the separate states. The federal government has placed 
special penalties upon violent interference with commerce, shipping, and telegraph 
lines ($10,000 fine, 10-20 yrs. imprisonment, or both). 

3. Disturbance of Foreign Relations. To make false statements for the pur 
pose of injuring the United States in its relations with a foreign nation is a crime. 
It is also a crim; to conspire in the Uiited States to injure the public property of a 
government with which we are at peace. (Penalty: $5000 fine, 5 yrs. imprisonment, 
or both.) 

4. Hostile Acts Against Friendly Nations. Our neutrality laws forbid making 
this country the base of any hostile operations or expeditions against friendly nations. 
Persons were recently convicted in New York for plotting to blow up the Welland 
Canal and others for scheming to cause a rebellion in India. (Penalty $3000 fine, 
J yrs. imprisonment.) 

5. Circulation of False Statements io Aid the Enemy. A lie may be a deadly 
weapon against us Those who make or repeat false statements for the purpose of 
interfering with our military or naval success while we are at war are liable to severe 
punishment ("$10,000 f;-^, 20 yrs. imprisonment, or both). 

6. Inciting Disloyalty in the Army and Navy. The Germans have won vic- 
tories in this war simply by insidiously undermining the morale of the Allied Armies. 
It is therefore made a crime to incite to disloyalty, insubordination, mutiny, or re- 
fusal of duty in our military or naval forces by any method whatsoever. Men who 
are registered for the draft are part of our military forces although not actually in 
service. (Penalty: $10,000 fine. 20 yrs. imprisonment, or both.) 

7. Obstruction of Recruiting. The law says that there must be no wilful inter- 
ference with the man who wishes to enlist in the army or navy. There is a heavy 
penalty for violations of this act ($10,030 fine, 20 yrs. imprisonment, or both). 

8. Criminal Conspiracies. It is a crime against the United States for two or 
more persons to plot or conspire to overthrow the government, oppose its authority, 
obstruct the enforcement of its laws, destroy its property, or violate any cf its laws. 
Every person involved in such a conspiracy is guilty even though the plot failed 
or was never carried out. (Penalty: $5000 fine, 5 yrs. imprisonment, or both ) 

9. Threats Against the President. There is a severe penalty for any one who 
threatens, in speech, writing, or any other way, to injure bodily or to kill the Presi- 
dent of the United States ($1000 fine, 5 yrs. imprisonment, or both.) 

10. Abuse of the Flag. The laws of Illinois and other states forbid any one to 
use the United States flag for advertising purposes or to desecrate, defy, or cast con- 
tempt upon it in any way. 

11. Misuse of the Mails. Every person is forbidden to send through the mails 
any communication which is treasonable in character or which urges or advocates 



treason, insurrectioa, or forcible resistance to anv federal law. A severe penalty is 
attached ($5000 fine, 5 yrs. imprisonment, or both). 

12. Failure to Report Violations of the Law. Heavy punishments arc visited 
upon those who harbor violators of the law or fail to make known facts in their pos- 
session regarding crimes and conspiracies, whether carried out or not, against the 
United States. (Penalty: $10,000 fine, 2 yrs. imprisonment, or both.) 



TRADING WITH THE ENEMY 

A loyal citizen might easily violate this prohibition without knowing it. 
You should know, therefore, that 

The Enemy- 
is composed of the following classes. 

1. Every person who lives in Germany, Austria, or the territory r.f their allies, 
or in any territory occupied by them; e. g., Belgium 

2. Every person living outside the United States who does business in such 
enemy territory. 

3. Every corporation created by Germany or her allies 

4. Corporations not created by the United States or the states thereof and 
doing business in enemy territory. 

5. The government, subdivisions, cities, officers, and agents of Germany and 
her allies. 

6. Enemy aliens interned in the United States for the period of the war. 

7. Such other classes of persons as the President may designat.e 

You Must Not 

1. You must not have business intercourse wtth the enemy. Every kind of 
financial and commercial transaction is forbidden except under such license as the. 
President may grant. (P>.'nalty: $10,000 fine, 10 yrs. imprisonment, or both.) 

2. You must not send communications out oj the country except through the mails 
This applies to every possible communication in tangible form aad forbids its trans- 
mission directly or indirectly unless under special license. (Penalty: $10,003 finej 
10 yrs. imprisonment, or both.) 

3. Ycu must not evade the censor. Rigid censorship has been placed upon all for- 
eign mail, telegraph, cable, and wireless service. You are forbidden to attempt in any 
way to avoid submitting any outgoing communication to this censorship or by the use 
of any secret code to conceal from the censor the true meaning of the communication. 
(Penalty: $10,000 fine, 10 yrs. imprisonment, or both ) 



TRADING WITH ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY WITHOUT A LICENSE 

We are 3000 miles from the seat of war. Shipping has become vital problem. 
The government must be able to use every American ship for the purposes which are 
most important at the moment. Therefore no one may engage in the import cr 
export trade without a license which subjects the holder to regulation and control 
(Penalty: J5000 fine, 2 yrs. imprisonment, or bcth.) 



IGNORING THE, WAR RESTRICTIONS LAID UPON YOUR BUSINESS 

1. Businesses Which Are prohibited. W^ must save food. It is therefore for- 
bidden to use any food products in making whisky or any distilled op-nts to be used 
as a beverage. 

2. Businesses Which Must Be Licensed. Those who produce, store, or distri- 
bute the necessaries of life, except farmers and retail merchants, may be required by 
the President to take out licenses and conduct their businesses under government 
regulations. 

Such licenses are now required in the case ot foods, fertilizers, and some chem- 
icals. 

No person whatsoever may make or sell explosives without a license. 

3. A^o Destruction of Necessaries of Life. To destroy food, fuel, or other neces 
sary products for the purpose of increasing the price or reducing the supply is pun- 
ishable by a heavy penalty. 

4. No Hoarding. Any person who wilfully hoards the necessaries of life may 
be imprisoned or fined and the hoarded goods may be sold. 

5. Excessive Prices Forbidden. The law deals sternly with the profiteer. Ex- 
tor ion will not be tolerated. 

Coal and coke must not be sold at a higher price than that fixed by the Presi- 
dent under penalty^ Thus far the price at the mine only has been fixed. 

Food and necessaries must not be sold at unreasonable prices. Licensed pro- 
ducers and distributors will have their licenses revoked for charging exorbitant 
prices. Unlicensed dealers will have their supplies cut off for the same offense. 

Violations of any of these provisions are punishable by $5000 fine, 5 years im- 
prisonment, or both' 



WHAT THE NATION ASKS YOU TO DO 

Patriotism is not content with obeying the letter of the iaw. The loyal citi7en 
will gladly do more than he is obliged to do. The nation is relying upon this vol- 
untary cooperation of all the people. 

Our government is still requesting of us many things which European nations 
have been obliged to command. It rests with us to make compulsion unnecessary. 

America, therefore; makes her appeal to your loyalty to do four things: 

SAVE! 
Save Food! 

"Food will win the war. Do not waste it." 
We must feed ourselves and our Allies. 
Raise a garden and eat perishable foods. 
Follow the rules of the Food Administrator. 

Save^Fueli; 

Do not burn it needlessly. An open grate wastes three fourths of your heat. 

Use wood instead of coal if you can. 

In winter heat your house* to" 68° instead^of 75° and save nearly 25% of your coal. 

Save Money! 

Cut down money spent for luxuries. 

Buy and use only necessary articles. 

Economy is vital to the nation: help make it fashionable. 

Labor which produces unnecessary things is wasted. Do not encourage it. 

LOAN! 

If you cannot fight you can heio by lending the government the money which it 
must have. 

A Liberty Bond is a certificate of your faith in rh^ justice of the cause for which we 
arc fighting. 

The United States is the best creditor in the world. 

The interest paid makes patriotism a paying investment. 

Loan the money you save— Save the money you loan! 

7 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




Buy Thrift Stamps! 
Buy Liberty Bonds! 



018 465 812 4 



GIVE! 



The government encourages you to give generously to relieve the suftenngs 
and add to the comforts and happiness of the victims ot war. 

Give to the Red Cross. Your money is needed to help care for the wounded 
soldier. 

Give to the Army Y. M. C. A. Your money is needed to provide recreation, 
clean amusements, a touch of home, for the boys in camp and trench. 

Give to the Armenian and Syrian Relief and Similar needs. Your 
money is needed to save the lives of men, women, and children who are actually 
starving. 

WORK! 

There is something you can do to help win this war. 

Acquaint yourself with the countless opportunities for service. 

Find out which is yours. 

Do it' 

Now! 



AS 

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Hollinger Corp. 



